Man Pleads Guilty In Passport Scheme

January 10, 2002|Staff Reports

South Florida

A former supervisory inspector for the Immigration and Naturalization Service at Miami International Airport pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting bribes and falsifying immigration records, U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis said.

Fredy Barragan of Miramar was indicted in October for conspiring to solicit and collect bribes in exchange for Barragan's help in obtaining the proper stamps on their passports that would allow immigrants to stay and work in the United States.

Barragan's wife, Katherine Barragan, and Monica Andrioli, his sister-in-law, also pleaded guilty in the conspiracy.

Barragan's job at MIA included the screening of tourists, business people and immigrants.

Barragan has resigned from his job and faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing in March.